Barnsley FC is an English league club from the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. It has the distinction of spending more time in the second tier of English football than any other club.  Founded in 1887 as Barnsley St Peters Football Club, by 1890 the club was playing in the Sheffield and District League and then in the Midland League from 1895 before joining the Football League in 1898.   Barnsley struggled in Division Two for the first ten years, due in part to ongoing financial difficulties. In 1910 the club reached the FA Cup final, where they lost out to Newcastle in a replay match. However, they reached the final again in 1912 and this time they won a reply against West Brom . The club earned the nickname "Battling Barnsely" after conceding only three goals in twelve cup toes (including four games against holders Bradford City). Barnsley won the game with a goal by insider-righ Harry Tufnell who scored two minutes from the end of extra-time. From the thirties up to the fifties the club found themselves sliding between the Second and Third Division, and in the sixties and seventies they hovered around the Third and Fourth Division, not able to break back into the top two levels of English football.   The eighties and early nineties saw an improvement in performances earning promotion and once again establishing themselves as a strong Division Two side.   At the end of the 1996-97 season, Barnsley reached the top tier of English football for the first time in their history but were relegated at the end of the following season.  The subsequent years were less successful, with relegation to Division Two and administration both threatening the existence of the club. Barnsley managed to survive and in 2006 gained promotion to the Championship (now the second tier of English football).  In 2007-08 they reached the FA Cup semi-finals, having knocked out both Liverpool and Chelsea but were beaten by Cardiff City. However, another period of decline led to relegation from the Championship at the end of the 2013-14 season. They returned to the Championship thanks to a 3-1 win over Millwall in May 2016. Barnsley were relegated back to the third tier in 2017-18, after finishing 22nd.Since the club was formed in 1888, the club'a home ground has been Oakwell which currently has a capacity of around 23,000 seats.

At the end of the 1996-97 season, Barnsley reached the top tier of English football for the first time in their history but were relegated at the end of the following season.  The subsequent years were less successful, with relegation to Division Two and administration both threatening the existence of the club. Barnsley managed to survive and in 2006 gained promotion to the Championship (now the second tier of English football).  In 2007-08 they reached the FA Cup semi-finals, having knocked out both Liverpool and Chelsea but were beaten by Cardiff City. However, another period of decline led to relegation from the Championship at the end of the 2013-14 season. They returned to the Championship thanks to a 3-1 win over Millwall in May 2016. Barnsley were relegated back to the third tier in 2017-18, after finishing 22nd.Since the club was formed in 1888, the club'a home ground has been Oakwell which currently has a capacity of around 23,000 seats.